Comments on: Lent is Not Over Until It is Over – Here’s Some Humorous Help for Latecomer Resolutions

By: Sarah Melnychuk

Sarah Melnychuk — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 06:23:00 +0000

hmmm… I fail to see the humor … maybe I have a different kind of humor but just for kicks I answered through every question with a NO and even though I said I didn’t like chocolate, at the end the chart still told me to give up chocolate… now, if I were telling the truth with all my NO responses then it doesn’t make sense to be told to give up any chocolate… for the simple reason that if I don’t like chocolate I’m not going to be eating chocolate, therefore, it’s more of a sacrifice to eat chocolate then it would be to abstain from chocolate… And I question the thought of only being able to hear God in silence. I believe it is possible to hear God in the hustle and bustle of things too… the only problem is, so many of us tend to place God on the back burner in daily life when really he should be front and center and behind everything we say, do, and think… and if he is front and center and behind everything we say, do, and think then we’ll be able to see and hear God in everything because He is forever speaking to us… the problem is, since in the hustle and bustle may lead us to placing God in the back burner we may fail to recognize God’s voice and His leading because we’re not searching for Him in everything we say, do, and think, but if we do then there is a guarantee we will hear God speaking to us even if it’s loud and noisy and full of activity.

By: Susanbtkc

Susanbtkc — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:59:00 +0000

LOVE This, love Fr. Shane too : )

By: FatherShane Johnson

FatherShane Johnson — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:18:00 +0000

Thanks, Jo! Yes, that was the intent. And of course @d53744783b7c2d5bdba8cc71bf140043:disqus is right too. It was designed — imperfectly, of course — for a youth blog I run, where the challenge is getting young people to “turn the corner” from a childlike way of living their faith to an adult way of living their faith. We adults tend to be more complicated, so designing something that takes a variety of different spiritual situations into account would make for a flowchart that’s, well… complicated! Maybe for next year’s version something better can be designed with your feedback. God bless you all, and have a holy Lent!

By: CLaudia

CLaudia — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:46:00 +0000

Thank you!

By: danburke

danburke — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Fr. Shane could comment but I took it the same way you did. Well said about that and beyond…

By: JoFlemings

JoFlemings — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:23:00 +0000

@ Sunny- you are so right, gluttony can really be a problem. And anything coming between us and trusting in Christ for our comfort sustenance and provision is a hinderance to our well being overall not just an exercise in being more appealing to the world. I think this flow chart is just poking fun at us as Catholics in how we can trade out something we really prefer, but find it’s not much of a prayer in sacrifice afterall. I think this flow chart is really more about motivating us to take whatever we are offering the Lord to the heart level- you know, make it really meaningful– intentional, if you will. Anyone who struggles with giving up what they prefer to eat or what they love to eat or even taking less than they desire to eat understands the challenges involved in this particular penitential season and how the mortification of self denial is not so much about vanity, but really about living in Christ. ( I never crave beef, lamb, chicken or pork much as I do on Fridays in Lent!) And even if I think lobster is an ok alternative, or that I really need to manage my weight more anyway- I certainly do hope my resolution to follow Jesus goes deeper than trying to make any sacrifice in Lent a win-win– you know the meet the minimum obligation for the requirement and derive a worldly benefit at the same time scenario! I think that is what Father is getting at- let’s really get focussed on God and doing HIS will. When we get that part centered in our hearts, the rest will flow.

By: New Name

New Name — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:50:00 +0000

Thanks Father Shane. Good to put a face to the name, too!
A good and holy Lent to you!

By: Patricia Washatka

Patricia Washatka — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:46:00 +0000

Excellent! Thank you!

By: danburke

danburke — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:54:00 +0000

Apprrove

By: Barbaraksanders

Barbaraksanders — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:49:00 +0000

suggestion: instead of “giving up” things for Lent, try
“giving out” things.
1. a hug for someone who never gets one
2. a note of appreciation for the gifts each member
of the family contributes
3. note to a priest on what his life gift means to you
etc.
barbara